Share your ideas for the library of the future!

Online Ideas Campaign has closed.

2013 marks a year of transformation for the Ottawa Public Library.

The Library strives to deliver services to a broader range of customers and is operating in a time of transformation – from rapidly developing technology, to increasing customer expectations, to changing demographics, and significant economic pressures.

To continue to deliver relevant, efficient, and equitable services that meet its customers' needs, the Library is looking to refresh its Strategic Plan in 2015. This online Ideas campaign is part of this initiative.

You can view and participate in the online Ideas campaign from May 15 to June 15, 2013.

Vote or comment on existing ideas, or post your own idea to these central questions:

The Library offers a wealth of services, collections, programs, and spaces. Imagine the Library in five years and tell us:

Learn more about how public libraries are changing

Scroll your mouse over a piece of the puzzle for more information:

Community Development

From building collections to connecting people, the Library is a leader in community development. It provides services for people within vulnerable sectors. Economic development is enhanced through business and job-related programs. The Library plays an important role in breaking down social isolation and fostering social inclusion. Spaces are free for all and services and collections are accessible to all. More can be done through increasing partnerships and shared visions.

Leisure

Leisure is at the heart of the Library. The future will see an increase in digital content (online magazines, music and video streaming, and eBooks). Gaming at the Library is very popular among children and teens. There has been a resurgence in demand for quiet, reflective spaces. Finally, there are a number of new opportunities for customers to engage in the traditional pastime of reading, such as online book clubs.

Learning

Libraries are meeting their communities' learning needs by creating new services and innovative spaces. With the growth of digital content, a number of libraries are debating on the mix of digital versus physical items. Some libraries have set up learning laboratories where customers can take advantage of computer-based learning tools. Technical learning centres are being used to increase customers' technical literacy. More can be done to make the Library's spaces centres for collaborative learning.

Creation

The Library provides quality resources and programming to foster creativity. New opportunities exist that could make it a centre for creation. Think of self-publishing, co-working and 3-D printing. The Library could be more than a place to discover and to rediscover; it could transform itself into a place for the creation and public sharing of knowledge.

Customer

Customers are at the centre of the Library's mission and their needs are central to all of the new opportunities that are currently explored by this project.

Celebration

The Library is a space for celebration. The Ottawa and Kanata rooms and the Nepean collection celebrate Ottawa by boasting local history collections. These items could be made available to a broader audience in one form or another. Spaces can be used for local community events and festivals.

Community Development

From building collections to connecting people, the Library is a leader in community development. It provides services for people within vulnerable sectors. Economic development is enhanced through business and job-related programs. The Library plays an important role in breaking down social isolation and fostering social inclusion. Spaces are free for all and services and collections are accessible to all. More can be done through increasing partnerships and shared visions.

Leisure

Leisure is at the heart of the Library. The future will see an increase in digital content (online magazines, music and video streaming, and eBooks). Gaming at the Library is very popular among children and teens. There has been a resurgence in demand for quiet, reflective spaces. Finally, there are a number of new opportunities for customers to engage in the traditional pastime of reading, such as online book clubs.

Learning

Libraries are meeting their communities' learning needs by creating new services and innovative spaces. With the growth of digital content, a number of libraries are debating on the mix of digital versus physical items. Some libraries have set up learning laboratories where customers can take advantage of computer-based learning tools. Technical learning centres are being used to increase customers' technical literacy. More can be done to make the Library's spaces centres for collaborative learning.

Creation

The Library provides quality resources and programming to foster creativity. New opportunities exist that could make it a centre for creation. Think of self-publishing, co-working and 3-D printing. The Library could be more than a place to discover and to rediscover; it could transform itself into a place for the creation and public sharing of knowledge.

Customer

Customers are at the centre of the Library's mission and their needs are central to all of the new opportunities that are currently explored by this project.

Celebration

The Library is a space for celebration. The Ottawa and Kanata rooms and the Nepean collection celebrate Ottawa by boasting local history collections. These items could be made available to a broader audience in one form or another. Spaces can be used for local community events and festivals.